Thursday, July 16, 2015

Barth on downtown bar problems

One year and at least one dead girl after failing to persuade her colleague Tony Kranz to vote with her to rein in the worst excesses of the downtown bars, former council member Teresa Barth writes in the Coast News:
The Encinitas bar scene has been causing trouble for some time. A handful of businesses are serving alcohol in an irresponsible way — a way that promotes public drunkenness, DUI-related incidents and a host of other problems. It all happens in the evening, after 10 p.m.

[...]

But there is a solution. It’s called a Deemed Approved Ordinance, a new kind of law that establishes a set of responsible operating standards that all alcohol retailers have to follow in order to stay in business. This approach has been successful in many cities in California, most recently in El Cajon where problems stemming from liquor and convenience stores have declined substantially. According to the El Cajon Police Department, arrests for public drunkenness dropped 35 percent, and arrests for drinking in public dropped 26 percent.

Actually, Encinitas was considering this type of ordinance last year but it was stymied by the local hospitality association. Not wanting to offend the business community, the city backed off from the ordinance and instituted some half-way measures. But it’s been almost a year now, and according to many residents I have spoken with, the problems have not gone away.
The vote last year was 3-2, with Barth and Shaffer voting for the DAO, and Kranz, Muir, and Gaspar voting against it. Instead, the council created another full-time, pensioned code enforcement position, which isn't even on duty most late nights and weekends!

Rachel Anne Morrison was killed just weeks later by a man driving home to La Jolla after drinking extremely heavily in downtown Encinitas.

Having defeated city efforts to crack down on problem bars, the "Encinitas Hospitality Association" has seemingly disappeared into the night.

66 comments:

  1. Let's be clear and honest. Theresa Barth supported Gus Vina who wanted and sang the praises of a "vibrant downtown". Well you got what you supported.

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  2. 6:24, Let's be clearer. Teresa and Shaffer voted for a DOA seeking to diminish your very version of "vibrant".

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  3. OK, let's get even clearer, correct my type-o and make it DAO.

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  4. Barth's lack of any stitch of leadership let this problem grow.

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  5. Yes she was dead on arrival.

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  6. What part of her voting the right way on this issue don't you get?

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    1. She is trying to play it both ways. She supports vibrancy and downtown businesses yet she supports DAO.

      One vote in favor of downtown residents does not make up for her other votes that have hurt citizens and taxpayers.

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  7. The part that dragged her feet when the problems were in her face and people were crying that we were going to be like Pacific Beach years prior. She was way late and a disaster.

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  8. Let's be clear, the person who was drunk and killed this young woman by driving under the influence is ultimately responsible. We live in a free society, but with freedom comes responsibility. Drunken Driving fines and penalties are way too lenient in the U.S. You want to stop drunk driving, take away licenses for good on the 2nd DUI like they do in Scandinavia...

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    1. If people are alcoholics, they can't even control their own actions. By leaving bar owners in charge, the people who make money off of drunks, you are skipping over an important issue. A DAO would at least bar owners SOMEONE who would be accountable, but the bar owners like the free for all as it is since it allows their businesses to pencil out!

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    2. I'm not against the DAO, bar owners have always supposedly been accountable in the abstract at least via the standard rules about overserving. There's no question that more drinks served equals more revenue. That's probably been true since as long as bars have existed. You can't assume all bar patrons are alcoholics. And the bottom line is if you drink, don't drive. This is a national problem, not unique to Encinitas. I find it totally disengenous to talk about this issue with not talking about the drinking problems of this country as a whole.

      Even if we get the DAO and bring down the over-serving, there's still no guarantee we won't have a fatality. It's a combination of education, enforcement and responsibility....

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    3. Marco, 7;12, having consequences in place for the bar owners will raise awareness since they may exercise caution that they are not now. While there may be fatalities that still happen, we can all agree that putting a DAO in place will not INCREASE fatalities. It is worth trying.

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    4. But Encinitas is unique and was known far and wide for surfing culture, yoga community, and nobody wants it to go from former flower capital to bar / drunk capital. The amount of drunks out tonight is staggering, go downtown right now if you want a front row seat. The hot rods were just family fun and now its an excuse to drink more it seems.

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    5. Quit assigning labels moron, I have nothing to do with Marco. God forbid we should have a rational discussion about alcohol abuse and drunk driving in the U.S.

      Let me bottom line it for you. You want to stop the excessive drinking downtown, get the cops on the job. That's the only way you stop it is to have the chance of an arrest at the end of the night. That's what they did in Carlsbad 10-15 years ago. The rest is just the hot air that is routinely spewed on here....

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    6. drinks served = revenue = taxes for the city. Did anyone ever really think this wouldn't happen? I sure did, that's what I never moved near downtown. You want to stop the idiotic behavior, make some arrests. You want arrests, lobby the city for more cops..

      -MGJ

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    7. Around the time the lady was hit in Del Mar, a drunk killed a young skateborder on 101 in carlsbad around midnight. But she wasn't driving from a bar in encinitas. She was southbound.

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  9. Barth likes to place the blame on others so she can continue to shine. Most of the people in this city saw how you operated and were quite unhappy with your performance. Yes, there were a few who glorified you and sent you away with some gifts.

    Bottom line is, we are glad you are gone. You were part of the reason the downtown problems exist and still exist today. I suggest every weekend you visit every bar past 10:00 p.m., bring a whistle, a gun, and take charge.

    Best thing you can do for us is stop trying to glorify yourself.

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    1. She is worse than $tock$, trying to bask in past "glory" - she is irrelevant. $tock$ influences thru his puppets, Muir and Ga$par...

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    2. She is not even close to the type of person her father was as a mayor. She is duplicitous and nasty.

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  10. Wow people are black and white around here. Either you are for mayhem or tea totaling.

    Let me be the first to support the middle ground. I think it's good we have night life downtown. I remember when everything shut down and tumbleweeds blew through at 6pm. That sucked, and it was unsafe to walk around without any others around.

    But I don't support out of control drunks fighting, making noise, and urinating openly in the middle of the night.

    I support any policy or enforcement that leads to a (yup, I'll say it) vibrant night life, but sends a message that we will not put up with people who can't control themselves. If DAO does that, then I will support DAO.

    Basically, I'm a dreamer. I think it should be possible to have a good time without being a d1ck.

    How's that for a controversial position?

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    1. I don't think it was ever unsafe to walk around, but it was a deadzone after 6pm. We definitely could use better leadership on the issue, more enforcement. You're not going to stop drinking, we already tried that with prohibition, but we should be able to manage the issue....

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    2. There are only 3 problem restaurants downtown: Mrs. Barth is trying to distract the public from her political allies bone-headed mistakes on the BIA debacle; personally designed to lose money by Barth at the behest of Slater-Price: and the knuckle-headed decision not to heed the Sheriff's Commander's request for additional personnel: most folks would prefer an additional deputy over $100K annually spent for a full-time arborist, or another $100K (a perfect paid gig for Barth), the Council Majority planned 'sustainability' officer that Kranz, Shaffer and Blake have in mind for their next budget.

      You have to be careful around Barth, she might grab Toto and hide him in the basket on her bicycle-bars. "Surrender Kristin! And your little dog too!"

      If downtown is unsafe, point the blame where it should go: Shaffer, Kranz and Blake.

      It is absolutely amazing, after being personally responsible for throwing away over $27 million dollars that this no-talent has the nerve to try and tell others how to live their lives!

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    3. The cops are adequately staffed - they just aren't put in the areas where they are needed. An arborist should be paid as needed; not a permanent position. And what is a "sustainability" officer?
      This city has too many frivolous hires....

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    4. You are a dreamer and an idiot.

      shut it down. We do not want to be the current PB Norte.

      this council sucks. Shut it down!!!

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    5. 6:02,

      Did you know the city has a full-time Arts Director?

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    6. Do they peer into art books all day? How can that be a full-time job - or a job at all?

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    7. And soon the Arts Director will have his own department.

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    8. Figures you'd place no value on art.

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    9. No. Don't add another cent to that $28 million dollar pile.

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    10. Valuing art does not mean needing government to provide it.

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    11. Indeed, some would say that government curation and provision of art is antithetical to the very idea of art.

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    12. For over 20 years in Anchorage, 1% has gone to public art. The city has blossomed because of that. Try to look at the next thing in your room that wasn't designed by an artist.

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    13. One look at Encinitas city hall would tell you this is tasteless leadership. And the City's throw everything and the kitchen sink in logo? Pathetic. Keep these people away from art or you will get more of the post modern pistachio look they make their decisions in.

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  11. "But Encinitas is unique and was known far and wide for surfing culture and a yoga community" so what do these two things have in common...t & a and lots of it since at the beach or surfing chicks are wearing next to nothing and if you are in the back row of the hot & sweaty yoga studio looking at the business end of some skin tight & sweaty Louloulemon's there' probably a lot more on the man's mind that Shangrila. The bars are all about pussy just as they've always been. Start up a conversation, turn on the charm and try and catch a good one. The more some people drink the better their game becomes, there's nothing new here. Northern Europeans have been meeting each other this way for centuries. If some New Yorker or San Franciscan just moved to downtown Encinitas, they should keep moving south to downtown but let's let our surfers and yoga girls still have an opportunity to meet one another...in a local bar...and hopefully create the next generation of 'debt slaves'...who else will pay all the taxes needed to maintain the countless 'dog parks' and 'free movie and concert nights?'

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    1. The cynicism is strong with this one!

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    2. 11:36 might need to get laid. He's like the starving cartoon characters that see each other as hot dogs.

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    3. But the general observations are basically valid....
      Neutralize the allure of sex and you'd hear crickets downtown....

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    4. "Neutralize the allure of sex"

      Sounds like a great plan. Good luck with that.

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    5. I just read Neutralizing the Allure of Sex. It works fine. Now I drink at home alone.

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  12. shut down the bar chaos.. we do not want to be PB Norte.

    I am not voting for any incumbent who voted for not shutting down the crazy drunk fest downtown.

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  13. I am sure that those who purchased their homes, rentals, etc. we're thrilled they could live so close to the beach and have great access to downtown. If only they could have a crystal ball to look to today and see how awful it has become. I feel sorry for these people having to put up with the drunks, the noise, the garbage and the bus loads of drinkers.

    I, thankfully, live nowhere near there. I am not proud of what our downtown has become. I do not shop there, drink there and avoid it as much as possible.

    Our city council has no desire to solve the problems for you. Band together and start protesting in front of the bars that are the real problems. Only that way will council take you seriously.

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  14. I'm 10:31 and would like to correct my error. First sentence should read "were"
    thrilled.

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  15. You didn't need a crystal ball to figure out that eventually the restaurants and nightlife would come to downtown. With the increase in real estate prices comes a wealthier type of person who can really spend on the expensive wine and restaurants. The only thing that delayed it was the recession.....

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    1. From what I have heard, our downtown is not necessarily attracting the cream of the crop! Most wealth people I know don't defecate nor vomit in strangers yards after a night on the town, nor do they take a night cap in "heroine alley."

      Those who profit from vices are usually not particular if the client is rich or poor--as long as they have cash.

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    2. If the rich are going to dine in style, believe you me, they will not be coming to Encinitas. They will be going to places like RSF, La Jolla, and all the great and fancy places downtown.

      I agree 3:02 - we are not attracting the cream of the crop. More like young party adults, addicts and isn't it attractive to see them vomit on our streets, pee wherever, and have sex wherever they can get it?

      Downtown Encinitas needs a major overhaul.

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    3. Poppycock, they are going to the 3rd Corner and all the other restaurants down there. In case you haven't noticed, the median income in this town is about six figures, and the median home price is a million or above. Therefore, just about everyone who lives here is rich. Again, if you want to cut down on the bad behavior, more enforcement. All the other talk on here is hot air and hand wringing...

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    4. I wonder what the median household income of newcomers is. I bet it's ~$200K, maybe even $250K.

      Lately I've seen Ferraris and Lambos in front of Union during weekend brunch/lunch.

      Not a bad thing, as long as we can maintain some diversity. I'll bet that the late-night crowd at Union/Shelter has more than a few young adult children of our newer wealthy neighbors. I've seen it first-hand, and the crowd is more Kardashian than skid row.

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    5. What, white people with only $50k a year or true diversity? LOL....

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    6. Many forms of diversity: age, racial, political, language, country of origin, religious, and yes, income.

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    7. Oh gawd already, Kardashian IS skid row. Fat butts, big egos, and now they will make tons of money off Caitlin. What a gig.

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  16. Get Barth's Brigade outside the bars in their Cluster Temperance League frilly outfits, beating tambourines and signing "Bringing in the Sheep". That'll drive those sex-crazed, drunken revelers away!

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    1. 7:54, Sheaves are bundles of cereal plant.

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    2. That's 'Bringing in the Sheaths..." Jes' sayin'.

      "We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaths..."

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    3. Bar owners are bringing in the shealths - shealths of cash!

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  17. 10:28 PM Contemporary revisionism on the modification!

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  18. From the part of Blakespear's newsletter that's about unionized, non-public safety city employees' pay and benefits:

    "We didn't do any comparing with similar-type jobs in the private sector."

    Well, gee, isn't that what you should be doing? Is there something about working for a city that makes the work a lot harder, more risky or needing greater skill and therefore deserving of total compensation much greater than comparable private sector jobs?

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    1. 10:42 Working for a city or the county means you need to at least show up for work and do the job. How many people in these areas are really doing this? I would say a lot are standing around talking about the weather while the work slips by yet another day.

      Right, give them big salaries, big pensions. The taxpayers have been getting screwed for years.

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    2. Cal Trans Syndrome!

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    3. Money is no problem - why investigate comparative wages? Just throw more money at them - the Administrators are all rolling in the dough - it's trickle down theory!

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    4. The real question is why no one is contesting the stagnation of real wages in the private sector. I doubt anyone would be complaining on here were it not for that fact....

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    5. Isn't it market demand? Reduced vertical mobility stagnates wages.

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  19. Under Barth's leadership our downtown has gone to heck. Now she believes she has enough credibility to voice an opinion that matters. Not in any way shape or form has she been accountable for her time when she could have done something and failed miserably.

    Who does she think would listen to anything from her at this point? Give me a break. She had her chance and squandered the opportunity. Too late, much too late, Teresa. Please go into the night and spare us your platitudes.

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    1. The downtown surge was already under way before Barth even became mayor. This was what the city always wanted, and then it came and it was too much, which is always how it is. It will die down and people will start going somewhere else. Short of increased enforcement, that's your only hope...

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  20. 95% of the problem children that are plaguing the downtown bar scene do NOT live in Encinitas.

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  21. Who says that we have to open the city gates and invite in the vandals to plunder?

    I care about the people who live in Encinitas and think that citizens rights should also come before bar owner's rights or city employees rights since many of them don't even live here.

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  22. 11:36 Totally agree with you. Why should we let others in to ruin our city? If the council cared about the citizens who live here and pay their taxes here, they would certainly be doing something short of a dumb code enforcement plan.

    We need a DAO. Many have been asking for it years. When will council listen? If this council doesn't do it, they are gone.

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